Senate Approves Iran Nuclear Deal!

On Thursday September 10, 2015, the Senate voted to uphold the Iran nuclear deal by blocking a Republican effort to submit a bill to reject the deal.

Republicans needed 60 votes to move the bill forward, but they only got 58 votes because 40 Democrats and 2 independents voted No -- against "cloture" which ends debate and moves the bill to consideration by the Senate.

There will be no rejection by Congress and the deal will go into effect.

Two hours after the Senate approved the Iran nuclear deal, South Mountain Peace Action held a rally to celebrate the deal's approval and to thank Senator Cory Booker and Representative Donald Payne, Jr., for supporting the deal.

Support a Nuclear Agreement with Iran

South Mountain Peace Action has sent the following letter to President Obama with cc's to Senators Menendez and Booker and Congressman Payne. Please copy and email your endorsement of this letter to the three officials at the links above.

South Mountain Peace Action of Maplewood and South Orange NJ would like to express its strong support for your efforts to negotiate an agreement with Iran that would assure the world that its nuclear program remains peaceful.

We agree with the president of the Arms Control Association, Darryl Kimball, who endorsed your goals for a nuclear energy agreement with Iran that would:

-- increase international inspections in Iran
-- reduce Iran's enriched uranium stocks
-- prevent Iran from enriching uranium to weapons-grade
-- reduce in half Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity
-- increase the time to about a year that Iran would need to enrich enough uranium for a nuclear weapon -- should it decide to break the agreement.

We agree with Darryl Kimball that such an agreement would be a good deal for America and the world.

Thank you for your efforts to negotiate a realistic, responsible and verifiable agreement with Iran that would make America and the world a safer place.

We are hopeful that such an agreement can be reached by the upcoming deadline of November 24, 2014.

After extending talks on Iran's nuclear program beyond the original July 20 target date, Iran and six world powers are closing in on a long-term, verifiable, comprehensive deal. Such an agreement would block Iran's potential uranium and plutonium paths to nuclear weapons, removing a major threat to international security for many years to come.

Iran and the six-country group -- known as the P5+1 because it comprises the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- have worked out solutions on several key issues, including some that appeared to be intractable just a year ago. They agree in principle that the design of Iran's Arak heavy-water reactor project can and should be modified to drastically cut its output of weapons-grade plutonium and that Iran shall not build a reprocessing facility to separate that material from spent reactor fuel.

Iran is amenable to implementing and ratifying measures that would strengthen International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection authority. With the option of short-notice inspections of undeclared sites under the terms of an additional protocol to its safeguards agreement and with regular inspections of Iranian centrifuge workshops, the international community would have the capabilities necessary to promptly detect and disrupt an effort to pursue nuclear weapons in the future, even through a potential clandestine program.

Both sides understand that the ongoing IAEA investigation of past Iranian activities with possible military dimensions will continue after a comprehensive nuclear agreement is reached. At the same time, it is clear that key sanctions, including UN Security Council measures tied to the issue, will not be removed until and unless the investigation is resolved.

The members of the P5+1 agree that the goal is not to extract an admission from Iranian officials that their country engaged in nuclear weapons-related work in the past, but to ensure that the IAEA has sufficient information to determine that no such efforts are taking place now or in the future.

On uranium enrichment, the two sides agree that Iran should limit its enrichment of uranium to normal reactor-grade levels: 5 percent or less of fissionable uranium-235. They agree that Iran's underground Fordow enrichment plant need not be closed, as the P5+1 originally demanded, but shall be limited to a research-only role.

But as the negotiators have stressed, "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." With less than a month before their current Nov. 24 deadline, the two sides still need to hammer out technical understandings and make important decisions on at least two major issues in order to get to "yes."

Until recently, Iran has sought to maintain its current number of operating centrifuges -- approximately 10,200 -- with the option to increase its uranium-enrichment capacity over time to provide fuel for potential new power reactors. The United States and its P5+1 negotiating partners want Iran to cut the current number of operating centrifuges for several years and to disable machines that are installed but not yet operating.

Given Iran's past actions, suspicion over its nuclear intentions is justified, particularly when its uranium-enrichment capacity exceeds its needs on the ground. Iran should be willing to accept a reduction in its enrichment capacity for a period of several years. This capacity could be allowed to expand in the future if Iran's needs for enriched uranium increase.

Reducing Iran's current enrichment capacity by half, combined with a significant reduction in the size of the country's enriched-uranium stocks or removal of those stocks to a third country, would increase the time it would take Iran to produce enough weapons-grade enriched-uranium gas for one nuclear weapon to nine to 12 months or more. That is more than enough time to detect and disrupt any effort to develop nuclear weapons.

In exchange for a significant reduction in Iran's uranium-enrichment capacity, the P5+1 will likely need to agree to allow limited research and development on more-advanced centrifuges. It is unrealistic to expect Iran to agree to a deal that limits it to using only first-generation centrifuges, which are inefficient and unreliable. The agreement can and should put in place verifiable restrictions that block Iran from manufacturing advanced centrifuges for production-scale enrichment for the duration of the comprehensive agreement.

Iran's current practical needs for enrichment are limited, but to assure Tehran that its needs can be met for the duration of an agreement, the P5+1 may also offer nuclear fuel-supply guarantees, including the shipment of several years' worth of fuel for Iran's one operating light-water power reactor, at Bushehr.

To enhance Iran's incentive to meet its nonproliferation obligations under the agreement, the two sides agree that the P5+1 will phase out and later lift nuclear-related sanctions as Iran meets its nonproliferation obligations and the IAEA investigation of Iran's nuclear program is concluded.

Policymakers in Washington and Tehran need to recognize a good deal when they see one. An effective, verifiable, comprehensive P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran is within reach. Such a deal is critical to guard against a nuclear-armed Iran and an escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and it is the only way Iran can obtain relief from further international isolation and sanctions.

J Street's new regional field organizer urged local followers to seize on current headlines to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Amy Levin's May 1 appearance at Maplewood Memorial Library on behalf of the "pro-Israel, pro-peace" group came during a week in which the Arab League endorsed a Middle East peace plan allowing for agreed-upon land swaps.

"Your timing is kind of amazing. In the last two days, there has been a sea change in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process," said Paul Surovell, chair of South Mountain Peace Action, which hosted her talk. "Last week, the two-state solution appeared to be dead; today it is more alive than ever."

Levin, who lives in Brooklyn and is based in New York, called on those present -- about 40 people, most of them Jewish -- to press for the renewal of the two-state process.

"Change comes from the ground up," she said. "Don't be afraid to speak out."
[...]
In her talk, Levin stressed the importance of "engaging with those whom you disagree with" and conducting a "vibrant but respectful debate" with regard to Israel.

"Strong and vibrant debate has characterized the Jewish tradition for millennia," she said. "That's why we believe it is necessary to engage with those with whom we disagree. We're bringing more pro-Israel, pro-peace activists into the community."
[...]
"I know that many of you are here because you are committed to peace, in all of its forms and contexts," she said. "Let's not stay silent when our president is calling on us to take action. Change, he said, lies in the hands of the people, especially young people."
[...]

May 1, 2013 J Street Meeting

May 1, 2013
Maplewood Memorial Library
7:30 to 9:00 PM

Amy Levin, J Street NY-NJ Field Organizer
will speak on:

"J Street's Program for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and a Two-State Solution."

Petition to Bring Troops Home Rebuild America

SMPA launched the following petition at Maplewoodstock on July 9, 2011:

Petition

to President Obama, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Congressmen Payne and Pascrell

Bring Our Troops Home and Rebuild America

It is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq, reduce nonessential military programs and redirect the resources saved to rebuild America. In this manner, we urge you to enact military spending cuts totaling $2.3 trillion over 10 years, as provided in the "People's Budget" of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and to use the funds saved for job creation, education, the environment and deficit reduction.

To sign the petition, copy the above and paste it into an email and send to:

Peace March in NY City October 27, 2007

Delegation Urges Senators to Take Leadership to End the War

On September 26, 2007, a delegation from Maplewood and South Orange urged representatives of Senators Lautenberg and Menendez to stand firm and oppose any Iraq appropriations that do not have a binding timetable for withdrawal.

The group also urged the Senators to take a stronger leadership role among their colleagues to encourage Congress to use its constitutional powers to end the war, and to support diplomacy rather than military action to resolve differences with Iran. A plea was made for global peace and for using resources for human needs and the environment instead of war.

September 16th Rally in Summit | NJ Senators Vote

Petition for Withdrawal from Iraq

South Mountain Peace Action is circulating a petition called "A Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq," which is co-sponsored by Families of the Fallen for Change Click photo for full-size version.

One of the first signers of the petition was Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta, pictured here as SMPA member Agnes Brophy and Jamie Ross look on.

The Petition seeks legislation in Congress to combine the FoF proposal for negotiations with all Iraqi factions, including the insurgents but not Al Qaeda, and Congressman John Murtha's resolution to end US military deployment in Iraq "as soon as practicable."

The petition follows the February 8, 2006 Forum in Maplewood: "A Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq," co-sponsored by SMPA and FoF, which featured reports on 5 categories of Iraq withdrawal proposals as well as the President's "National Strategy for Victory."

Here's the text of the Petition:

Petition for A ResponsibleWithdrawal from Iraq

to Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez;Congressmen Donald Payne and William Pascrell

The undersigned residents of New Jersey, noting that 72% of US troops in Iraq want all United States troops to be withdrawn in 2006*, urge you to work for legislation in the Senate and House to implement a responsible US withdrawal from Iraq as follows:

(1) The US commits to ending its military deployment in Iraq and disavows any desire for permanent military bases there;

(2) The US immediately offers to negotiate with all Iraqi factions, including the insurgents but not Al-Qaeda, to reduce US troop levels to zero in stages, in exchange for reduced levels of violence, and to increase US economic assistance in exchange for protection of Iraqi minority rights;

(3) After six months if such negotiations fail to take place or do not achieve reduced troop levels and reduced violence levels, the US will then proceed to end its military deployment in Iraq as soon as practicable.

Call Senators to Support Kerry Resolution on Withdrawal

SMPA in Peace Festival at April 29th March in NY

Mario Murillo Speaks at NJPA Annual Dinner April 30th

Be About Peace Day Attended by Nearly 400

Nearly 400 parents and children paricipated in South Mountain Peace Action's second annual Be About Peace Day in Maplewood on March 18, 2006. The Star-Ledger reported the event in its March 19th edition as follows:

In Maplewood, several hundred people gathered in the public library for the second annual "Be About Peace Day."

Children sat at tables, penning letters to President Bush, assembling fabric patches for a peace quilt and tracing the Russian, Japanese and Sanskrit words for "Peace" onto T-shirts.

The political rhetoric was muted, which organizer Paul Surovell said was intentional.

"We're for peace. We're for changing our priorities. We don't get involved in name-calling or attacking anyone," Surovell said. "Iraq is in the back of everybody's minds, but this is about creating a peaceful world for children."

Fifth Annual NJ Peace Train Saturday Dec 3rd

A delegation of civic and student leaders from Maplewood and South Orange NJ, presented a letter on Oct. 27, 2005, to representatives of New Jersey Senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, urging them to co-sponsor the Feingold Resolution, which calls on the President to declare an exit strategy from Iraq.

The delegation, pictured above, (l-r) included Seton Hall University Student Government Association Treasurer Santino Certo, President Sheena Collum and Assistant Treasurer Matthew Rivers; Columbia High School Student Council President Daniel Symonds; South Mountain Peace Action chair Paul Surovell; Maplewood Township Committee member Kathy Leventhal; South Orange Trustee Terriann Moore-Abrams and Maplewood Township Committee member David Huemer. Receiving the letter were Lisa Plevin, NJ deputy director for Senator Corzine and Mada Liebman, senior advisor to Senator Lautenberg. The delegation members and letter signatories were acting as private citizens and not in their official capacities.

November 7, 2005:Israelis & Palestinians for Peace: The Next Steps

Vigil in Maplecrest Park for 2,000 Soldiers Killed in Iraq

On October 26, 2005, South Mountain Peace Action hosted a vigil in Maplecrest Park to honor and reflect on the 2,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq. The vigil was called by MoveOn and the American Friends Service Committee.

Buses to DC for Sept 24th Rally to End the War in IraqBring the Troops and the National Guard Home!

Statement Circulated by SMPA at the September 24, 2005 Demonstration in Washington, DC:

Statement by South Mountain Peace Actionon the The Two-State Solutionand the "Right of Return"

One of the organizers for today's September 24, 2005 rally is making the unacceptable demand that all Palestinian refugees who left Israel in 1948 and their descendants (a total of 4 million people) be allowed to return to Israel and be given back the lands they lived on in 1948. This demand, which is being called the Right of Return, is equivalent to calling for the dissolution of the state of Israel, which is a call for war, not a call for peace.

We believe the rights of Palestinian refugees should be addressed through a two-state solution -- Israel and Palestine -- living in peace and security. We recommend the following Statement of Principles by the American Task Force on Palestine, a Palestinian-American group, as a framework for addressing the issue.

Candlelight Vigil for Cindy Sheehan, West Orange

SMPA Urges New Jersey's Senators: Support the Feingold Resolution

South Mountain Peace Action has sent letters to Senators Lautenberg and Corzine, urging them to co-sponsor the Feingold Resolution which calls on the President to develop an Iraq exit strategy with timetable. Feingold recently called for a US troop withdrawal by the end of 2006.

Sign MoveOn Letter for Cindy Sheehan

MoveOn plans to take out an ad in The Waco Tribune Herald, the newspaper nearest to Crawford, Texas, calling on President Bush to meet with Cindy Sheehan. MoveOn hopes that at least 200,000 Americans will sign the ad. Please Click here to sign the ad.

Picnic for Peace July 30 2005

Mothers Take Action: Darfur / Petition Drive

Mothers Take Action: Darfur has begun circulating Africa Action's Petition to President Bush calling for United Nations intervention in Darfur.

The Petition says:

"Genocide is taking place in Darfur, Sudan. On September 9, 2004 your Administration rightfully acknowledged this fact, but the U.S. has failed to take sufficient action to stop the violence. Up to 400,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been displaced, their livelihoods and villages destroyed by Sudanese government forces and their proxy militias. We call on you to assert U.S. leadership by taking every step necessary through the United Nations to:

SMPA Delegation Presents Petitions to Congressman Pascrell

On Thursday, March 31, 2005 an SMPA delegation of Ginny Brown, Cathy Casriel, Paul Surovell and Donez Xiques visited Congressman Bill Pascrell in his Paterson office and presented him with South Mountain Peace Action's petition, "SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ" with 1,304 signatures collected in South Orange and Maplewood.

Most of South Orange is in the 8th Congressional District which Pascrell represents.

SMPA Delegation Presents Petitions to Congressman Payne.

On Monday, March 28, 2005 an SMPA delegation of Saundra Addison-Britto, Peggy Auer, Paul Surovell and Dan Symonds visited Congressman Donald Payne in his Newark office and presented him with South Mountain Peace Action's petition, "Speak Out Against the War in Iraq," with 1,304 signatures collected in South Orange and Maplewood.

Maplewood and parts of South Orange are in the 10th Congressional District which Pascrell represents.

SMPA Delegation Presents Petitions to Senator Lautenberg

On Tuesday February 22d a delegation of 13 residents of Maplewood and South Orange presented SMPA petitions to Senator Lautenberg urging him to Speak Out Against the War in Iraq signed by 1,256 people in the two towns.

SMPA Delegation Presents Petitions to Senator Corzine

On February 17, 2005, a South Mountain Peace
Action delegation of 10 Maplewood and South Orange
residents presented petitions with 1,228 signatures to Senator
Corzine's senior advisor Mada Liebman in the Senator's Newark
office.

SCOTT RITTER in Maplewood Monday October 17th

Scott Ritter returns to Maplewood on October 17, 2005, for an appearance at the Woman's Club of Maplewood, 60 Woodland Road, at the intersection of Woodland Road and Inwood Place, one block from the BankAmerica building on Maplewood Avenue. CLICK...

People at the Library (1) 3-19-05

People at the Library (2) 3-19-05

Be About Peace DayIn the Evening at Ethical, Part 1

After the afternoon's events at the Library, we reconvened at the Ethical Culture Society for an evening of speeches, music, poetry and a candlelight vigil to dedicate our peace memorial created by children and adults in the afternoon.